British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a new trade deal for the United Kingdom with six Persian Gulf countries. File Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI | License Photo
May 20 (UPI) -- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday announced a trade agreement with six Persian Gulf countries that he says will raise living standards in Britain.
The agreement "delivers on the Government's core mission to generate the economic growth that will put money in people's pockets and raise living standards right across the U.K., in line with the Government's growth agenda," a press release said. It "deepens our partnership around shared principles -- open trade, the certainty that businesses rely on in uncertain times, and the shared prosperity that drives long‑term economic success for all our nations."
The deal will offer about $5 billion worth of opportunities for exporters annually, especially in the food and luxury car sectors, but also defense, aerospace, hospitality and other services, the government said. It's expected to add $2.5 billion a year to real wages.
The deal is a potential win for Starmer in the wake of recent calls for him to resign. But there have been complaints that the deal doesn't include caveats to protect human rights.
